The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-02-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Congress has given its attention to a
vast amount OF miscellaneous matter
during the present week, such as the
Texas kukluX investigation, money for
rivers and harbors, retaliation towards
Canada, and the trade dollar, but the
most interesting debate occurred in the
senate over the bill providing for the
increase of the naval establishment.
The senate voted for the building of
ten new cruisers. Senator Maxey Of
Texas was not only in favor of build
nag war vessels, but of fOrtifying every
seaport in tue country. He knew that
it was going to cost money, but he said
if there was any force in the maxim
/ sin time of peace prepare for war" this
was the time to put it in practice, when
the treasury was OVERLOOKING and when
the money was being absolutely vast
ed.
Senator Butler OF South Carolina,
wanted the vessels to be heavily arm
ored. Mr.. Hale insisted that the pend
ing bill confined the new yeesels strict
ly to defensive, not aggressive purpos-
es. He was Tor the defensive purposes
first, and after that, if armored ships
were desired, he would favor them.
L
now proceeding were the fast cruisers,
making it dangerous for other nations
to engage in war with the United
States, because their commerce would
be sthe prey of the cruisers and the
coasts deienses to prevent foreign fleets
from bombarding the great cities of the
United States.
Senator Ingalls, expressed the belief
| that the floating batteries provided for
in the bill would be practically useless.
The senate had been within the past
few weeks appropriating millions on
millions, not for tribute, but for defense
Wealthy men who did not care how the
money was to gofhad been doing this.
He hoped that the senate would pause
| in its headlong career long enough to
get some tangible information as to how
much money there was in the treasury
and how long the "Fountain of Pacto-
lus" would afford the golden stream
| necessary to meet the millions which
| the senate was so recklessly voting
away.
Senator Dolph had read to the senate
newspaper clipping describing an
! imaginary attack on and destruction of
the city of San Francisco, by hostile
fleet. Then he dwelt upon the present
defenseless condition of the United
States and said it was under heavy
bond to keep the peace with all the
world, and that it would be at humil-
iating disadvantage in any controversy
When SenatorVest took the floor he
most every one who met him. In poll
tics he was a whig-one of those mag
netic ones who beat down democratic
majorities and carried the day by his
personal influence. Around his fire.
side he was one of the most compan-
ionable men / ever met. Given down
to old age" amid his pain and afflic-
ton, the luster of his eye and CHEEKY
ring of his laughter betokened a self
| forgetfulness not common among men.
{! His love for and loyalty to his church
remained with him until death. He
said but few days before he died that
he was the only member of the Old
LYNN church who belonged to it when
he Joined. His faith in its tenets was
only equaled by his tolerance for those
who differed with him. Ispent night
with him not long before he passed
away. He spoke tenderly of the sepa-
ration which he knew full well was not
far away. Just before he died he felt
the silver chords loosing. Abstracted-
ly he said: "Poor wandering saint,
come home" 1t was not Impotence
not longing to depart. Rather was
it an abstract mood in which he seemed
to hear the voice of another as with
weary feet he approached blissful
home "to 90 no more out forever"
Reaching his three score years and ten
God heightened out his days until he
passed his eighty-second year. The
investment was good one. Twelve
years of old age allowed sunny-sided
man past seventy sis as ointment pour
ed FORTH" He never outlived his SYM
pathy with men, measures, or his coun-
try. He was not dead while he lived,
but lived-truly lived until LIES latest
day. The large concourse that crowd
ed the church and gazed upon his last
remains with tear-bathed faces told
but too plainly that good citizen,
neighbor, friend and brother, as well as
a devoted husband, father and grand
father, had passed away. We left his
weeping vile by her fireside with an
abiding faith in God, and an early re-
union with him she loved so well. Let
all who love him fix their steadfast
gaze upon his happy home and say: 81
shall 60 to him." T. j. DUNCAN.